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theguardian.com
UK on track to undershoot borrowing forecasts after recording biggest ever budget surplus in January – business live
The UK posted a record monthly budget surplus of £30.4bn in January, lifted by higher tax receipts and falling interest costsUK reports record-breaking budget surplus of £30.4bn in surprise boost for Rachel ReevesThe jump in tax receipts last month may show that UK government receipts are starting to get the boost from inflation and wage growth earlier in the year.Nick Ridpath, research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, says:“Today’s data on the public finances is particularly important, given the outsized impact of January’s self-assessment returns on revenues and borrowing for the year as a whole.Income tax receipts had been a little disappointing over 2025, lagging behind forecasts even as inflation and wage growth exceeded expectations. But today’s data shows that self-assessment revenues in January were almost £2 billion (6%) higher than forecast.Mail order retailers, which are predominantly online, experienced a boost from retailers selling sports supplements, as well as continued strong sales volumes by online jewellers. Comments from jewellers reported that demand had hit unprecedented levels. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
European markets open higher as investors monitor U.S.-Iran tensions
European stocks opened higher on Friday as traders parsed more earnings reports and monitored tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
cnbc.com
Who's laughing now? China’s humanoid robots go from viral stumbles to kung fu flips in one year
Chinese humanoid robots are having a moment in the spotlight after a standout performance at the country's annual Spring Festival Gala.
bbc.com
UK government finances better than expected in January
The government took in more from tax receipts than expected, official data suggests.
cnbc.com
South Korea's Kospi hits fresh high for a second straight session amid regional declines
South Korea's Kospi touched a record high for the second straight day on Friday, powered by a rally among insurance stocks and defense players.
bbc.com
Asos co-founder dies after Thailand balcony fall
Quentin Griffiths co-founded Asos in 2000 and remained a significant shareholder after leaving the firm five years later.
cnbc.com
Sumitomo Pharma shares plunge nearly 16% despite greenlight for Parkinson's treatment
Shares of Japan's Sumitomo Pharma fell over 15% on the back of profit-taking after a specialist panel endorsed its iPS cell-based therapy for Parkinson's disease.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: U.S. markets rocked by private credit worries and potential strike on Iran
Meanwhile, Blue Owl Capital tightened investor liquidity after selling $1.4 billion in loan assets, raising alarms about stability in the private credit market.
theguardian.com
Homes for sale with luscious lawns in England and Scotland – in pictures
From a former Georgian hospital in a Scottish Borders town to a converted greenhouse in the Kent countryside Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Amid Epstein fallout, Bill Gates becomes point of controversy at India AI summit
Bill Gates has become a point of controversy at a major Indian AI festival this week, amid the fallout of the latest Epstein file release.
bbc.com
Closing factory workers paid to help at food bank
Dutch coffee-making giant Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) will close its plant in Banbury this year.
cnbc.com
Alien files: Trump to order U.S. agencies to release documents on 'extraterrestrial life'
In a Truth Social post, the U.S. president said his move was based on the "tremendous interest" in the subject, without providing additional details.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Private credit fears and U.S.-Iran tensions pressure Wall Street
Meanwhile, Blue Owl Capital tightened investor liquidity after selling $1.4 billion in loan assets, raising alarms about stability in the private credit market.
bbc.com
Starmer 'appeasing' big tech firms, says online safety campaigner
Baroness Kidron tells the BBC the PM has being "late to the party" in regulating social media.
theguardian.com
Do you remember your first crappy job? Today’s young people would wish for half your luck | Gaby Hinsliff
The youth minimum wage is set to rise over this parliament, but it’s putting off employers from hiring people into their first rolesWhen Keir Starmer was 14 years old, he got a part-time job clearing stones from a local farmer’s field. At 16, Kemi Badenoch was flipping burgers and cleaning toilets in McDonald’s. Me, I waitressed at weekends from the age of 15 in an Essex pub owned by an ex-paratrooper with two formidable rottweilers roaming behind the bar, which was a life lesson all of its own.But whatever your first job may have been, there’s a reasonable chance it combined the thrill of hard cash with several mortifying mistakes and a crash course in handling stroppy customers, taking criticism more or less gracefully and moaning about it only out of earshot. Though teenage starter jobs have been in decline for decades – for reasons varying from academic pressures on sixth-formers to the rise of side hustles on Vinted that don’t show up in official statistics – everyone still has to start somewhere, even if it’s now more likely at 18 than 14. But getting that start is becoming harder than it was. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
France and Germany agreed to build the fighter jet of the future. Now they can’t agree who is in charge
FCAS, which also involves Spain, is imploding at a high-stakes moment for Europe, as threat rises from RussiaFrance and Germany’s plan to build a fighter jet of the future, planned to come with a swarm of drones and a “combat communications cloud”, is collapsing.Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, said this week that the €100bn programme no longer worked for him. He insisted it was “not a political dispute”, but a technical one. France needs a jet that can carry nuclear weapons and launch from aircraft carriers, while Germany does not. However, the problems go back much further. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Mind launches inquiry into AI and mental health after Guardian investigation
Exclusive: England and Wales charity to examine safeguards after Guardian exposed ‘very dangerous’ advice on Google AI Overviews‘Very dangerous’: a Mind mental health expert on Google’s AI summariesMind is launching a significant inquiry into artificial intelligence and mental health after a Guardian investigation exposed how Google’s AI Overviews gave people “very dangerous” medical advice.In a year-long commission, the mental health charity, which operates in England and Wales, will examine the risks and safeguards required as AI increasingly influences the lives of millions of people affected by mental health issues worldwide. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How ‘smog capital of Poland’ saved 6,000 lives by cutting soot levels
Kraków’s ban on burning solid fuels plus subsidies for cleaner heating has led to clearer air and better healthAs a child, Marcel Mazur had to hold his breath in parts of Kraków thick with “so much smoke you could see and smell it”. Now, as an allergy specialist at Jagiellonian University Medical College who treats patients struggling to breathe, he knows all too well the damage those toxic gases do inside the human body.“It’s not that we have this feeling that nothing can be done. But it’s difficult,” Mazur said. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
'Canary in the coal mine': Blue Owl liquidity curbs fuel fears about private credit bubble
The private credit boom is facing a new test after Blue Owl Capital permanently restricted withdrawals from one of its retail-focused debt funds.
cnbc.com
Three Silicon Valley engineers charged with stealing Google trade secrets and sending data to Iran
A federal grand jury indicted three engineers on charges of stealing trade secrets from Google and other tech firms and transferring sensitive data to Iran.
cnbc.com
OpenAI and Anthropic’s rivalry on display as CEOs avoid holding hands at AI summit
OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei had an awkward moment at a major AI summit, with the two CEOs of competing AI giants opting not to link hands.
theguardian.com
Can Europe survive without US defence? Surprisingly, the Baltic sea nations are showing the way | Elisabeth Braw
Joint patrols are being mounted to protect undersea cables from Russian sabotage: localised cooperation is our best hope for nowElisabeth Braw is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council thinktankWhen European countries in the Baltic Sea region joined Nato for protection against Russia, they were not anticipating their most powerful Nato ally would be the one threatening to seize territory from them. The shock of the Greenland crisis may have faded from the headlines, but Donald Trump’s US has also suggested it may decide not to defend Europe. And Russia continues to be a nuisance in the Baltic Sea.Luckily, the vulnerable Baltic nations have launched an impressive string of initiatives to keep their mini-ocean safe. As the US sheds responsibility for Europe’s defence, these efforts could provide a model for the future of Nato itself.Elisabeth Braw is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council thinktank. She is the author of Goodbye, Globalization: The Return of a Divided World and The Defender’s Dilemma: Identifying and Deterring Gray-Zone Aggression Continue reading...
theguardian.com
New drone unit to investigate illegal waste dumping across England
Government announces tougher measures to tackle unlicensed sites as ‘prolific waste criminal’ is ordered to pay £1.4mA new 33-strong drone unit is being deployed to investigate the scourge of illegal waste dumping across England, the government has announced.The improvements to the investigation of illegal waste dumping – which costs the UK economy £1bn a year – come as the ringleader of a major waste crime gang was ordered to pay £1.4m after being convicted at Birmingham crown court. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Experience: I’m the last traditional clog maker in England
I cut small trees around Offa’s Dyke, then shape the wood by hand I never wanted to be part of an unsustainable society. I’ve always tried to live as peaceful a life as I can, outside the big cities. Now I am the last person left in England making clogs by hand. I spend most days in my studio in Kington, Herefordshire, carving green sycamore wood that I collect myself, hand-dyeing the leather and making sure the soles are as near perfect a match to someone’s foot as possible. I don’t think you can have a more peaceful life than that.I grew up in Ceredigion, surrounded by sheep. There were no jobs in the area and in 1976 I had to go on benefits. I developed extreme anxiety after breaking up with my first girlfriend. Convent schooling and boys’ boarding schools weren’t the best places to learn to develop relationships and I needed to find something therapeutic to do. Continue reading...
bbc.com
US and Indonesia finalise deal to cut tariffs to 19%
Washington will set a 19% tariff on most Indonesian goods in exchange for lower trade barriers for US goods
cnbc.com
Japan inflation falls below BOJ's 2% target for first time since March 2022
The 1.5% figure ended a run of 45 straight months that the inflation rate has been above the Bank of Japan's 2% target.
cnbc.com
Nvidia is in talks to invest up to $30 billion in OpenAI, source says
The investment is separate from the $100 billion infrastructure agreement that OpenAI and Nvidia announced in September.
theguardian.com
Trump defends tariffs in pre-midterms appearance in battleground Georgia
Visit was ostensibly to promote economy, but US president focused on repeated, unverified claims of voter fraudDonald Trump forcefully defended his tariffs on Thursday, claiming “tariffs are my favorite word in the dictionary” and promoting their use to empower American manufacturing at an event in north-west Georgia.“Without tariffs, this country would be in so much trouble right now,” Trump said during his remarks at Coosa Steel Corporation, a steel-processing and distribution firm in Rome, Georgia. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Nasa boss says Boeing Starliner failure one of worst in its history
The agency released a critical report that puts the Starliner incident at same mistake level assigned to the fatal Columbia and Challenger shuttle disasters.
bbc.com
Live Nation sees strong ticket sales as monopoly lawsuit looms
The entertainment giant's revenue surged last year as 159 million fans attended its concerts.
bbc.com
Epstein eyed record label investment to access women, files suggest
His associate said the music industry was "related to P", a way Epstein apparently often referred to women.
theguardian.com
Roblox sued by Los Angeles over claims platform ‘makes children easy prey for pedophiles’
LA County says the gaming company does not carry out adequate moderation and its age-verification systems are not fit for purpose, which Roblox deniesOfficials in Los Angeles have said they are suing Roblox, alleging the popular online platform exposes children to sexual content, exploitation and online predators.In a lawsuit, Los Angeles County said the company does not carry out adequate moderation and its age-verification systems are not fit for purpose. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How do you modernise mango farming?
India's mango farmers are being urged to innovate as climate change makes cultivation "unpredictable".
cnbc.com
Gold and silver prices help turn Olympic medals into the most valuable in modern games' history
Olympic gold and silver medals at the 2026 Milan Winter Games in Italy are the most valuable of any games as precious metals are trading at near record highs.
bbc.com
The Chinese AI app sending Hollywood into a panic
Clips of Deadpool and other film characters have sparked alarm within Hollywood over copyright infringement.
cnbc.com
Blue Owl curbs investor liquidity following asset sale, shares slide almost 6%
Private credit specialist Blue Owl said it will restrict quarterly liquidity for investors in its retail-focused debt fund.
theguardian.com
New York governor pulls robotaxi expansion proposal for cities outside Big Apple
Kathy Hochul backed away from allowing robotaxi services in smaller cities, though Waymo still plans to move ahead in New York CityNew York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, has pulled her proposal to allow commercial robotaxi services in smaller cities outside New York City, a spokesperson for the governor said on Thursday.“Based on conversations with stakeholders, including in the legislature, it was clear that the support was not there to advance this proposal,” the spokesperson said. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Kennedy defends Trump glyphosate order; MAHA erupts as midterms approach
President Donald Trump on Wednesday invoked the Defense Production Act to spur the domestic production of glyphosate and elemental phosphorus.
cnbc.com
Trump to decide whether to attack Iran in next 10 days — oil prices rise
The U.S. has launched a major military buildup in the Middle East is it threatens Iran with potential military strikes.
bbc.com
Lobbying firm co-founded by Mandelson on brink of collapse
Global Counsel says administrators will take control on Friday, blaming the "maelstrom" surrounding Mandelson.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Merz and Meloni: an emerging Berlin-Rome axis is threatening the EU’s green deal
The deregulation agenda being pushed by Germany’s chancellor and Italy’s prime minister is economically and ethically flawedWhen the European Union launched its green deal in 2019, putting into law the goal of climate neutrality by the middle of the century, it showed strategic foresight as well as global leadership. Russia’s war in Ukraine has starkly underlined the extent to which the continent’s energy security – and its future prosperity – is dependent on the transition away from fossil fuels. Lately, however, EU leaders’ environmental approach appears to be echoing the youthful St Augustine’s plea on chastity: make us greener, but not yet.The recent European Industry Summit in Antwerp made unusually big headlines thanks to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s xenophobic outburst over immigration. But it was also notable for fierce attacks on one of the most important pillars of EU environmental policy. The bloc’s emissions trading system (ETS) – which makes polluters pay for the C02 they emit – has achieved dramatic results in driving down overall emissions since 2005 and encouraging green innovation. Worryingly, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, appeared to sympathise with demands from Sir Jim and other CEOs for a radical relaxation of the rules.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S. trade deficit totaled $901 billion in 2025, barely budging despite Trump's tariffs
The U.S. trade deficit swelled in December, closing out a year in which the imbalance was essentially unchanged.
bbc.com
Microsoft error sees confidential emails exposed to AI tool Copilot
The company says it has addressed the issue and it "did not provide anyone access to information they weren't already authorised to see".
cnbc.com
U.S. says Tehran would be ‘very wise’ to make a deal as Russia, Iran hold naval drills
It comes shortly after Vice President JD Vance accused Iran of failing to address core U.S. demands during nuclear talks in Geneva.
theguardian.com
Accenture ‘links staff promotions to use of AI tools’
Consulting firm keen to increase uptake of technology and is reportedly monitoring adoption by workforceAccenture has reportedly started tracking staff use of its AI tools and will take this into consideration when deciding on top promotions, as the consulting company tries to increase uptake of the technology by its workforce.The company told senior managers and associate directors that being promoted to leadership roles would require “regular adoption” of artificial intelligence, according to an internal email seen by the Financial Times. Continue reading...
bbc.com
US trade deficit hits fresh high despite Trump's tariffs
The US bought more goods than it sold in 2025 as the White House attempts to reverse the flow.
theguardian.com
Global Counsel calls in administrators, blaming Peter Mandelson ‘maelstrom’
Advisory firm has lost string of clients despite efforts to cut ties with co-founder after Epstein revelationsGlobal Counsel, the advisory firm co-founded by Peter Mandelson, is to collapse into administration, blaming the “maelstrom” caused by revelations about the former peer’s relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Companies including Barclays, Tesco and the Premier League have all deserted Global Counsel, despite the company’s efforts to sever ties with Mandelson and the company’s co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
King Charles' brother Andrew arrested on suspicion of misconduct
U.K. police on Thursday arrested King Charles III's brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
bbc.com
Pubs to open late for home nations World Cup knockout games
Football fans will be able to enjoy an extra round at the pub thanks to new rules during the men's World Cup.
cnbc.com
Accenture tells senior staff to use AI tools or risk losing out on leadership promotions
Accenture started tracking how often senior staff are logging in to its AI tools this month saying AI adoption will be a "visible input to talent discussions."
cnbc.com
Apple sued by West Virginia for alleged failure to stop child sexual abuse material on iCloud, iOS devices
The lawsuit accuses Apple of prioritizing privacy branding and its own business interests over child safety.
theguardian.com
UK manufacturing still beset by low orders and price pressure, says CBI
Industrial trends survey shows firms are expecting to raise prices, with order books well below averageBritish manufacturing orders remain well below average and price pressure continues to persist, according to a closely watched survey.The CBI industrial trends survey found that manufacturers’ orders for the month were below average in February, while most firms expected to raise their prices and for output to decline over the next three months. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Made in Europe’ EU industrial strategy could hit supply chains, UK minister warns
Nick Thomas-Symonds says move could also create unnecessary UK-EU trade barriers and increase costsBusiness live – latest updatesA British minister has warned that the EU’s “Made in Europe” industrial strategy could hit supply chains, increase costs and create unnecessary trade barriers between the UK and some members of the bloc.Nick Thomas-Symonds, the UK minister for EU relations, made the comments as the EU is preparing to publish legislation that would require European-made products to be prioritised in public procurement and consumer schemes. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S. renews threat to quit the International Energy Agency over net zero agenda
U.S. energy chief Chris Wright said the U.S. would pressure the global energy watchdog to move away from its net zero agenda over the coming months.
theguardian.com
Horse meat set to be banned in Italy amid draft equine bill
Law defines animals including horses, donkeys and mules as pets and is backed by opposition partiesItaly could soon ban horse meat as part of a law that would define equine animals including horses, donkeys and mules as pets, making it illegal to kill them.The bill has been drafted by Michela Vittoria Brambilla, a politician with Noi Moderati, a member of Giorgia Meloni’s ruling coalition, and is backed by opposition parties. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Why New Balance's 'dad shoes' are beating Nike as sales surge 19%
New Balance grew sales 19% to $9.2 billion in 2025 as its emphasis on street-wear styles and performance resonate with a wide range of shoppers.
cnbc.com
Russia's Putin slams U.S. oil blockade on Cuba: 'We do not accept anything like this'
His comments come as the Caribbean island nation grapples with a worsening economic crisis.
cnbc.com
Chinese tech companies progress 'remarkable,' OpenAI's Altman tells CNBC
Top tech executives gathered in India this week for the AI summit in New Delhi.
theguardian.com
How the anxiety over AI could fuel a new workers’ movement
New technology has workers spooked, but experts say it’s creating an opening for a resurgence in worker powerIn 2026, it’s a scary time to work for a living.Gone are the days of quiet quitting, the Great Resignation, and the highly visible union-organizing battles that began the decade and signaled that perhaps worker power was on the rise again in the US. Instead, much of that momentum is being crowded out of our minds by anxieties: a worsening affordability crisis, geopolitical instability and the specter of artificial intelligence looming over the workplace. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
United Airlines is paring back rewards for travelers who don't have its credit card in MileagePlus overhaul
United Airlines is overhauling its MileagePlus loyalty program to reward customers who have the carrier's credit card over those without it.
theguardian.com
‘We’re not hippies’: why these Iowa farmers swapped pigs for mushrooms
Faaborgs rail against oppressive industrial agricultural system with unexpected evolution into indie artisan food firmAs a sixth-generation Iowa farmer, Tanner Faaborg is all too aware that agricultural traditions are hard to shake. So when he set in motion plans to change his family’s farm from a livestock operation housing more than 8,000 pigs each year to one that grows lion’s mane and oyster mushrooms, he knew some of his peers might laugh at him. He just did not necessarily expect his brother to be chief among them.“My older brother has worked with pigs his entire adult life, managing about 70,000 of them across five counties,” Faaborg says. “But we got to a point where he went from laughing at me to saying: well, I guess maybe I’ll quit my job and help you out.” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Local reporter ‘shocked’ over picture of his face on punchbag at UK town hall
Joe McCann of the Melksham News was tipped off by a contact about the image and raised issue at council meetingA local newspaper journalist has said he was “shocked” after a picture of his face was printed out and attached to a punchbag at a town hall.Joe McCann, who has worked for the Melksham News for 10 years, was tipped off by a contact that a print-out of his face had been attached to a freestanding punchbag inside the building. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘We’re no longer attracting top talent’: the brain drain killing American science
As Trump slashes science funding, young researchers flee abroad. Without solid innovation, the US could cease to have the largest biomedical ecosystem in the worldIn April 2025, less than three months after Donald Trump returned to the White House, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put out its latest public health alert on so-called “superbugs”, strains of bacteria resistant to antibiotics.These drug-resistant germs, the CDC warned, are responsible for more than 3m infections in the US each year, claiming the lives of up to 48,000 Americans. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘DEI is dead, equality isn’t’: experts chart path forward amid Trump’s culture war
Two law professors outline strategies for equality’s survival in a Trumpian post-DEI era in new book How Equality WinsThe Trump administration’s “war on woke” seems to have claimed its biggest victim in DEI. Not so long ago, diversity, equity and inclusion was the favorite term of Fortune 500 CEOs and the political elite. More recently, it has been blamed for everything from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and the deadly Los Angeles wildfires to the crash between a regional jet and a helicopter in Washington DC.“DEI means people DIE,” Elon Musk wrote last year. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Dennis the Menace featured on 50p coin to mark 75 years
The new coin has been made with with Beano, Britain's longest-running weekly comic, first published in 1938
bbc.com
Etsy sells second-hand fashion app Depop to eBay for $1.2bn
The "pre-loved" fashion firm has been sold by Etsy just five years after it bought the firm.
theguardian.com
Trump’s bid to name Penn Station after himself looks like a presidential shakedown | Mohamad Bazzi
The US president’s relentless self-aggrandizement spree continues amid hypocrisy and shifting explanationsAs a real estate developer, Donald Trump built his empire on ostentatious displays of wealth, substantial tax breaks – and lots of free publicity. As president, he has deployed the power of the state to expand his personal brand, adding his name to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the US Institute of Peace, a class of new navy warships, and even investment accounts for millions of children.Trump is now eyeing yet more grandiose targets in his self-aggrandizement spree. He wants Congress to rename New York’s Penn Station and Washington Dulles international airport in his honor. But there’s a catch: Trump reportedly told Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, that he would unfreeze billions of dollars in federal funding for a major infrastructure project in the north-east – if Schumer supported renaming the two sites.Mohamad Bazzi is director of the Center for Near Eastern Studies, and a journalism professor, at New York University Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘We are the forgotten little town’: will disenchantment in Denton leave it ripe for Reform?
With Gorton split between Labour and Greens, division creates opportunity for Farage’s party in other side of constituency facing byelectionIf you’re unsure whether you’ve crossed the border from Manchester into Tameside, the Reform posters will probably give it away. In windows, on walls, and staked on garden posts, Denton is awash with turquoise blue as the 26 February byelection looms.Near the town centre, Ian Singleton and his wife, Irene, have one of Reform’s turquoise banners standing proudly in their front yard. Ian was born in Gorton, in Manchester, but for the best part of the last three decades, the couple have lived on the other side of the constituency, in Denton. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Warmer weather hits profits at British Gas owner
Savvy bill payers shopping around for fixed-tariff energy deals also dented earnings at British Gas.
theguardian.com
Reporter confronts Melksham councillors over punchbag bearing his face found in town hall – video
The journalist Joe McCann brought a photograph of the punchbag bearing his image to a council meeting in the Wiltshire town of Melksham, demanding an explanation. One councillor apologised 'unreservedly' for what he described as a 'bad joke'An earlier headline incorrectly stated that the councillors were members of Wiltshire Council. The video was recorded at Melksham Town Council. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Vietnamese airlines sign deals for nearly 100 Boeing jets during party chief’s Washington visit
The deals include commitments from Vietnam Airlines, Sun PhuQuoc Airways and VietJet.
theguardian.com
MPs in call to halt Drax’s £2m-a-day subsidy over sustainability doubts
Exclusive: Cross-party group ‘deeply concerned’ power plant may have misled ministers and regulators over source of wood pelletsEd Miliband is under pressure from MPs to suspend subsidies worth £2m a day paid to the owner of the Drax power plant in North Yorkshire after court documents cast doubt on the company’s sustainability claims.A cross-party group of 14 MPs and peers have called on the energy minister to halt the subsidies for Britain’s biggest power plant while the financial watchdog investigates the company’s claims about how it sources the millions of tonnes of wood pellets burned to generate electricity. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘They pushed so many lies about recycling’: the fight to stop big oil pumping billions more into plastics
Plastic production has doubled over the last 20 years – and will likely double again. For author Beth Gardiner, metal water bottles and canvas tote bags are not the solution. So what is?Like many of us who are mindful of our plastic consumption, Beth Gardiner would take her own bags to the supermarket and be annoyed whenever she forgot to do so. Out without her refillable bottle, she would avoid buying bottled water. “Here I am, in my own little life, worrying about that and trying to use less plastic,” she says. Then she read an article in this newspaper, just over eight years ago, and discovered that fossil fuel companies had ploughed more than $180bn (£130bn) into plastic plants in the US since 2010. “It was a kick in the teeth,” says Gardiner. “You’re telling me that while I am beating myself up because I forgot to bring my water bottle, all these huge oil companies are pouring billions …” She looks appalled. “It was just such a shock.”Two months before that piece was published, a photograph of a seahorse clinging to a plastic cotton bud had gone viral; two years before that England followed Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and introduced a charge for carrier bags. “I was one of so many people who were trying to use less plastic – and it just felt like such a moment of revelation: these companies are, on the contrary, increasing production and wanting to push [plastic use] up and up.” Then, says Gardiner, as she started researching her book Plastic Inc: Big Oil, Big Money and the Plan to Trash our Future, “it only becomes more shocking.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why there's no quick fix in sight for the problem of dazzling headlights
Road users say headlight glare is an issue - but experts warn a solution might not be straightforward.
theguardian.com
Centrica boss to get £3.6m bonus despite sharp fall in profits
Chris O’Shea will receive a total of £4.7m despite British Gas owner suffering a shareholder rebellionThe owner of British Gas will hand its chief executive, Chris O’Shea, another salary increase despite a shareholder rebellion over its decision to raise his pay last year while households faced record levels of energy debt.O’Shea will receive £4.7m for 2025 after Centrica increased his base salary from £855,000 to £1.1m. He will also receive a £1.4m bonus – half in shares, which vest in three years – and £2.2m from the company’s long-term investment plan. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Bill Gates pulls out of India's AI summit over Epstein files controversy
The Gates Foundation said the decision was made to "ensure the focus remains on the summit's key priorities".
cnbc.com
CNBC's Inside India newsletter: India is throwing its weight behind AI — but is there substance behind the headlines?
Some of these obstacles include the lack of regulation clear enough to encourage the best AI businesses to come to India and the need for capital infusion.
theguardian.com
If Keir Starmer is ousted, Labour could still win the next election. Here’s how that would work | Larry Elliott
Once a PM is seen as hapless, there is no way back. But Labour has good plans – and with the political landscape fragmented, it could yet prevail Continue reading...
bbc.com
'We're still on edge': Toy firms look to US Supreme Court as tariffs hit profits
"You cannot go to sleep on this president," says one toymaker, of the ongoing uncertainty over trade policy.
cnbc.com
Quantum's big leap puts data centers in the spotlight
Quantum is advancing rapidly, sparking discussions about how the powerful computers will integrate with industries like the already booming data center sector.
theguardian.com
I’m putting tech firms on notice: deal with the appalling abuse of women online – or we will deal with you | Keir Starmer
I see violence against women as a national emergency. The posting of non-consensual intimate images is part of that crisis, and it must stopTackling violence against women and girls is not just a priority for my government. It is central to who I am.Before entering politics, when I led the Crown Prosecution Service as director of public prosecutions, I worked with victims of rape, domestic abuse and sexual violence, and I saw, up close, the lifelong damage these crimes cause. And I learned that when systems fail victims, the harm does not end, it deepens.Keir Starmer is UK prime ministerDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Zuckerberg defends Meta in landmark social media addiction trial
The billionaire boss said he "always" regretted not making faster progress to identify users under 13.
bbc.com
Reeves fixated on 'dysfunctional' borrowing rules, says IFS
The think tank suggests the chancellor's fiscal rules need to shift the focus from one key figure.
bbc.com
Tech firms will have 48 hours to remove abusive images under new law
The government is proposing that intimate image abuse should be treated more severely.
bbc.com
The two farms in Senegal that supply many of the UK's vegetables
During winter in Britain fresh produce is sent by cargo ship from the West African nation every week.
bbc.com
Trump adviser calls for Fed economists to be 'disciplined'
Kevin Hassett criticised a New York Fed study into tariffs and the impact on US firms and consumers.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on UK-EU defence: moving in the right direction, much too slowly
The threat of Russian aggression makes a compelling case for urgent continental cooperationFor Vladimir Putin, peace talks with Ukraine are war pursued by other means. That is why progress has been so slow in negotiations, which resumed in Geneva this week. The Russian president demands the surrender of territory that his army has failed so far to win in combat. Since Mr Putin cannot be trusted to honour any agreement, Volodymyr Zelenskyy rightly insists on robust security guarantees. The Kremlin remains committed to restoring national pride through territorial expansion. Mr Putin might accept a lull in the Ukraine conflict, but only to regroup. He must be deterred from resuming a campaign aimed at extinguishing Ukraine’s sovereignty.His country’s economy and propaganda apparatus are increasingly oriented towards sustaining a long war. He has shown little sign of abandoning efforts to weaken Nato and punish European democracies for backing Kyiv. The intent is signalled by a campaign of constant provocations: sabotage, maritime and air incursions, cyber-attacks and online disinformation.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Plan to increase youth minimum wage could be delayed
Government sources tell BBC News they could slow down plans to make minimum wage equal across age groups.
theguardian.com
‘By the end of the day we’re just knackered’: business booms for UK’s south Asian jewellers as gold prices soar
Economic uncertainty drives customers to snap up 22-carat gold bars and coins or sell off unworn jewellery“With everything that’s going on in the economy and Donald Trump banging his chest against the world, we’re finding there’s no trust in the banks because we don’t know what’s going to happen,” Sandeep Kanda says.Kanda is the owner of Sunny Jewellers, situated along a stretch of Leicester known as the Golden Mile, and is a beneficiary of consumers seeking alternative investments amid the uncertainty. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Britons living in EU face repayment hikes amid Reeves student loans row
Exclusive: UK graduates in Germany, Belgium and possibly other countries informed of rises as salary threshold is cutBritons living in some European countries face a huge rise in their student loan repayments later this year, the Guardian can reveal, in a move that threatens to trigger a fresh backlash for Rachel Reeves.UK graduates working in Germany and Belgium – and possibly other countries – have been told that their monthly repayments will increase from April, the Guardian can reveal. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Household energy bills in Great Britain forecast to fall by £117 a year
Consultancy’s prediction comes after Rachel Reeves said green subsidy costs would be removed from domestic billsHousehold energy costs in Great Britain are expected to tumble by an average of £117 a year from April after Rachel Reeves announced in November’s budget that the cost of green subsidies would be removed from domestic bills.The government’s quarterly cap on energy bills is forecast to fall after the chancellor’s decision to shift the levies used to support renewable energy projects into general taxation, and scrap a bill payer-funded energy efficiency scheme, according to Cornwall Insight, a leading energy consultancy. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'Check your payslip' warns nurse who overpaid nearly £3k in tax
Gemma Belby says she only found she was paying "double tax" after chatting with her colleagues.
bbc.com
Are UK interest rates expected to fall soon?
The interest rate set by the Bank of England affects mortgage, loan and savings rates for millions.
theguardian.com
‘Like an electrical gong bath!’ The Sheffield supermarket going viral for the symphonic sound of its freezers
Redditors are thrilled by the Co-op on Ecclesall Road, where a magnificent drone is reminiscent of Brian Eno’s ambient music. We take a visit to the back aislesThere’s a new sound gripping Sheffield. You won’t find it at one of the city’s eclectic jazz nights; nor in any of its clubs or live music venues. You’ll find it in the back aisle of a Co-op supermarket on Ecclesall Road.“Anyone noticed how nice the freezers sound in the eccy road co-op?” someone wrote on the Sheffield Reddit page in January. “It’s like all the fans have been carefully tuned to the calmest droning chord ever, it’s like being in an electrical gong bath.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why are UK prices still rising?
UK Inflation has dropped back from record highs but remains above the Bank of England's 2% target.
bbc.com
Lower fuel prices and airfares help drive inflation down
The rate at which prices are rising is slowing down, which could lead to lower interest rates.
theguardian.com
Should we be impressed or worried by China's humanoid robot display? – video
China Media Group's 2026 Spring Festival Gala drew widespread attention with a performance of humanoid robots that appeared to do martial arts alongside young performers. However, as the videos spread, viewers expressed both admiration and unease over the accelerating development of the machines. Experts have mixed views. China’s dancing robots: how worried should we be? Continue reading...
theguardian.com
From the archive: ‘Who remembers proper binmen?’ The nostalgia memes that help explain Britain today – podcast
We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors.This week, from 2022: Idealising the past is nothing new, but there is something peculiarly revealing about the way a certain generation of Facebook users look back fondly on tougher timesBy Dan Hancox. Read by Dermot Daly Continue reading...
bbc.com
Illegal skin lightening cream being sold in UK butchers, watchdog warns
A trade body has warned illegal skin bleaching products are being sold in an increasingly wide range of places.
bbc.com
Why youth unemployment is rising
Unemployment in the UK rose to its highest rate in nearly five years at the end of 2025
bbc.com
Netflix and Paramount are battling for Warner Bros. Who is likely to win?
What to know about the two firms' blockbuster battle to control Warner Bros Discovery.
theguardian.com
David Squires on … Jim Ratcliffe’s comments and his need for some home truths
Our cartoonist reflects on the Manchester United co-owner’s recent statements and electioneering, via the prism of Cracker’s DCI BilboroughBuy this cartoon | David’s favourite works of 2025And his latest book, Chaos in the Box: get it now Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Openreach said yes to full fibre broadband, then branded it ‘uneconomical’
Its ‘fibre checker’ tool confirmed I could have a connection, but a month later it changed its mindMy internet provider informed me by email that full fibre broadband had become available for my property, confirmed by Openreach’s “fibre checker” tool. After a month, Openreach declared the connection uneconomical due to blockages in the conduits below the road. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Reddit's human content wins amid the AI flood
Reddit says its human contributors are valued amid an internet awash with AI-generated content.
bbc.com
Trump eyes Venezuela visit – but obstacles to his oil plan remain
The US president wants American energy firms to start extracting the crude but they are reluctant.
bbc.com
Why you should consider switching bank accounts
Martin Lewis explains why now might be a good time to think about changing your bank account.
bbc.com
The US economy is growing - so where are all the jobs?
As hiring rates and job openings drop, some worry a tough job market could be here to stay.
bbc.com
Get a grip: Robotics firms struggle to develop hands
Developing a durable and affordable hand is one of the biggest challenges in robotics.
bbc.com
Thousands queue as beauty store arrives on island of Ireland
Almost 2,000 people joined the queue for the opening of a new store in Belfast this morning.
bbc.com
Who is billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and how did he make his money?
The industrialist and Manchester United co-owner has apologised over comments he made about immigration.
bbc.co.uk
The Bottom Line
Why do private landlords attract so much criticism – and how fair is it?
bbc.com
The Dutch love four-day working weeks, but are they sustainable?
The Netherlands has the lowest working hours in Europe, but some say it is harming its economy.
bbc.com
How £50m 'fish disco' could save farmland
Innovative tech scares fish away from nuclear cooling pipes.
bbc.com
Why food fraud persists, even with improving tech
Even with sophisticated technology it is still difficult to detect fake foods.
bbc.com
Plane makers chase Asia's super-rich with luxe new private jets
Parts of the aviation industry are shifting towards wealthy customers and selling a more luxurious type of international travel.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
bbc.com
The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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